Reno, Nevada (CNN) - Mitt Romney made an appeal to struggling families at his second Nevada rally in as many days, telling voters he understood their troubles and could help.

The candidate's retooled stump speech, featuring a series of empathetic stories about down-on-their-luck Americans – a senior on Medicare, a daughter working to pay off her college loans, a middle-aged homeowner whose property lost value - came as the GOP presidential nominee sought to capitalize on a surge in the polls this month that has fueled new optimism about his election effort.FULL POST

Canton, Massachusetts (CNN) - High-profile attorney Gloria Allred appeared Wednesday at a hearing outside of Boston, asking a state judge to unseal testimony Mitt Romney gave during his business colleague's bitter divorce battle more than 20 years ago.

Allred represents Maureen Stemberg Sullivan, the ex-wife of Staples co-founder Tom Stemberg, who worked closely with Romney in the company's development and spoke on the GOP nominee's behalf at the Republican National Convention.FULL POST

(CNN) – The razor thin 2000 Florida presidential vote is resurrected in the latest political ad from President Barack Obama's campaign, using the 537-vote deficit that ultimately put George W. Bush in the White House to encourage Democrats to get out and vote.

Another former president – Bill Clinton – is also appearing in a new ad from Obama's campaign, saying detractors of the president are similar to his own opponents from two decades ago.FULL POST

(CNN) – It's the kind of feverish schedule that is usually reserved for the final days of a presidential campaign: a two-day coast-to-coast swing that includes stops in eight states, multiple television interviews, and a redeye flight on Air Force One.

But President Obama isn't waiting for the last weekend of the campaign to up his pace to an all out sprint, a likely reflection of just how close he and his aides believe this race now stands with just under two weeks until Election Day.FULL POST

(CNN) – In a much-hyped announcement, real estate mogul and reality television star Donald Trump pulled yet another flashy move on Wednesday offering a monetary incentive in exchange for private information from President Barack Obama's past.

Trump, in a stunt designed to draw media attention and set afire the conservative blogosphere, said he would donate $5 million to charity if the president released his college records and passport applications.FULL POST

(CNN) - U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said Wednesday that he is sorry if he offended anyone by saying that pregnancies from rape are "something that God intended to happen" but accused Democrats of distorting his comments for political gain.

"For those who want to kind of twist the comments and use them for partisan, political gain, I think that's what's wrong with Washington these days," the Indiana candidate said. "I spoke from my heart; I spoke with my principle; I spoke from my faith. And if others want to somehow turn those words and use them against me, again, that's what's wrong with Washington today.FULL POST

EDITOR'S NOTE: CNN has sent dozens of reporters, producers, contributors and correspondents to the key battleground states to cover the final days of the 2012 election. In this post, CNN contributor John Avlon offers his take on one Florida woman who says she won't vote.

(CNN) – The Battleground Bus Tour is hitting Florida's I-4 corridor Wednesday, talking with the swing voters who will decide the winner of the Sunshine State's 29 electoral votes in two weeks.FULL POST